Opening of the World Conservation Congress

On behalf of all Canadians, I am pleased to welcome you to this World Conservation Congress. Canada is honoured to host the most important global environmental meeting since the 1992 Earth Summit held in Rio.

This is not the first time that I have had the honour to welcome IUCN members to Canada. In 1972, I addressed your General Assembly in Banff, Alberta. At the time I was the Minister responsible for Parks Canada.

Much has changed since then. Your organization has grown to become the leading international conservation alliance. The world is facing major challenges that only a few could have predicted two decades ago. And our approach to conservation issues has changed in some important ways. We have recognized the need for cooperative global action. All nations are affected by the actions of others. All nations must work together to find global solutions to global problems.

All sectors of society must also work together. I have always believed that government can and must be a force for good in society. Clearly, the challenges associated with conservation cannot be left to the marketplace alone.

Canada has worked hard to help conclude major agreements and conventions over the last decade. The 1992 Earth Summit resulted in three important conventions. I want to congratulate the IUCN for its important contribution in particular to the development of the Biodiversity Convention. Canada was an early supporter and one of the first developed countries to ratify it. Several months ago I was pleased to attend the opening of the Convention Secretariat here in Montreal. And I am also very proud that Montreal has become an important centre in the global environmental movement.

Of course, the protection of endangered species is an important aspect of biodiversity conservation. Every nation must do its part. I am therefore pleased to announce that Canada's Minister of the Environment will soon table legislation in Parliament for the protection of endangered species. Provincial and territorial governments have also agreed in principle to a national framework which commits them to do the same within their areas of responsibility. This is a positive and important step forward.

Here in Canada, we have learned some hard lessons about conservation and sustainability. We do not have a choice between the economy and jobs on the one hand and the environment on the other. A healthy economy is dependent on the long-term conservation of our renewable resource industries, such as our fisheries and forests.

This Congress is about sharing experiences, both positive and negative. Canada has experienced first hand the devastating impact of the non-sustainable use of resources. When my government took office three years ago, we were facing the potential collapse of our Atlantic fishery after years of overfishing. Thousands of jobs were at stake. Canada took strong action to put an end to overfishing. And we worked hard to bring about a new UN agreement on migratory fish stocks. We must now concentrate on achieving the 30 ratifications necessary to bring the agreement into force, as soon as possible. I want the IUCN to know that this is a high priority for Canada. We hope that other countries will also make it a priority.

I would like to turn to a subject which is very close to my heart: Canada's national parks system.

I have served in public life for more than 30 years, but nothing has given me greater satisfaction than my involvement in establishing ten new national parks when I was the minister responsible for Parks Canada.

Since the establishment of Banff in 1885, our national parks have been symbols of Canada. In 1911, our federal government established the world's first Parks Branch. Now, Parks Canada is entrusted with the care of our national parks and historic sites in every province and territory. We are very proud of Parks Canada. We are going to ensure that it has the authority and the flexibility it needs to address the challenges of the 21st century.

It was very appropriate that the IUCN met in Banff in 1972. It is perhaps Canada's most famous national park, and a unique place of breathtaking beauty and grandeur. Banff is very important to Canadians and to our government. We see ourselves as global trustees of this World Heritage Site. When we took office three years ago, we recognized that Banff was in trouble. We appointed a Task Force to review the situation. It made recommendations last week, and Canada's Deputy Prime Minister immediately announced strong measures to limit the growth of development. We are determined to protect the ecological integrity of Banff for Canadians and the citizens of the world -- forever.

Our government has also created two new national parks this year. Wapusk National Park in northern Manitoba is more than 11,000 square kilometres, and home to one of the largest polar bear denning sites in the world. We also created Tuktut Nogait National Park, more than 16,000 square kilometres in the Western Arctic.

It is a great pleasure to announce today that the government of Canada will create two new national parks in Canada's Arctic. The first is a large watershed around Wager Bay, representative of the tundra ecosystem. The second, on Bathurst Island, contains the calving ground of an endangered population of Peary caribou.

This means that, in the past six months, the Government of Canada will have set aside over 60,000 square kilometres for new national parks -- an area larger than Switzerland, larger than Nova Scotia.

I am also pleased to announce today that our government will introduce legislation soon for the creation of a national marine conservation system -- the marine equivalent of our land-based national parks system.

Creating new national parks and maintaining the ecological integrity of our existing parks will continue to be a high priority for my government and for me personally.

It is very appropriate that this First World Conservation Congress is meeting on Canada's Thanksgiving holiday, a day when Canadians have traditionally come together to offer thanks for the bounty of nature.

This Congress is about caring for the earth and its people as we move into the 21st century. The people of Canada and the government of Canada are committed to support your important work. May your deliberations be productive. Thank you.